Supporting device such as a clothes hanger



p 1954 w. sci-fusTER SUPPORTING DEVICE SUCH AS A CLOTHES HANGER 1 5 9 1 m w: x .7, v. We 1 I u m- J 0 m w 1 Q 1 F IN VEN TOR.

g' -m ScHus-rER patented Sept. 7, 1954 SUPPORTING DEVICE SUCH AS A CLOTHES HANGER Wilhelm Schuster, Vienna, Austria, assignor of one-half to Valentin Krause, Vienna, Austria Application July 13, 1951, Serial No. 236,507

Claims priority, application Austria February 10, 1951 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a supporting device such as a clothes hanger comprising a flexible carrier and pressure elements lined upthereon and bearing one on the other, said pressure elements imparting to the flexible carrier the necessary carrying capacity.

In the known clothes hangers of this type the carrier comprises either a metal strip which is flexible in one direction whereas it is rigid against bending in the other direction owing to pressure elements riveted thereon, or comprises a solid wire made rigid against bending in all directions by a series of pressure elements being lined up on it. Whereas the first-mentioned clothes hanger is flexible, it is so only with limitations, a metal strip not permitting of bending in all directions. For this reason such a clothes hanger, in spite of its slenderness, can be sewn into a garment only so as to be rotatable on its longitudinal axis because the flexible strip surface must face upwardly for suspending the garment whereas said surface must face the back of the wearer when the garment is being worn.

This invention provides a clothes hanger which distinguishes by a carrier which-may be laid together in a small stowage space similar to a string of pearls, and which can be transformed into an element capable of carrying load by a single finger pressure.

This invented construction resides in that the flexible carrier is made of a tension-resistant rope, which has engaging heads at the rope ends and carries a series of pressure elements having sufficient axial play to permit of bending of the carrier in all directions. Moreover, the rope carries a stretching device which transmits pressure to the pressure elements and to the rope in opposite directions to stretch out said pressure elements on both sides of the stretching device whereby a rod is formed which is capable of carrying load.

This clothes hanger can be sewn directly into a garment with special advantage because when the stretching device is relaxed the carrier perfectly adapts itself'to the body of the wearer and is not perceptible in the garment at all. This advantage is achieved thereby that a triangular piece of cloth capable of carrying load holds with its margin corresponding to the base of the triangle the carrier and its pressure elements in an expanded position and has in the angle opposite the base a suspending loop. This piece of cloth takes up a substantial part of the load moment With its margins corresponding to the sides of the triangle and serving as tension elements.

When the stretching device is in its effective posi- 5.5

tion the carrier serves for stretching the garment and for retaining its shape.

In the drawing the invented clothes hanger is shown by way of example in two embodiments.

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing a clothes hanger which can be sewn into a garment, the carrier being broken away at one point.

Figs. 2 and 3 are partially sectional elevations showing the portable clothes hanger in a relaxed position and in position for use, respectively.

The clothes hanger shown in Figs. 2 and 3 comprises an elongated tension resistant carrier means, such as a rope or string I which is made from stranded wire and has lined up on it a plurality of bead-type body members or pressure elements 2 and members 3 are firmly arranged at the rope ends. In the middle of the rope a manually operable spring means is provided which comprises a pair of levers 4, 5 which are pivoted to each other so as to be movable beyond the rope axis into an obtuse-angled position as shown in Fig. 3, defined by a hinge stop 6 known per se. The levers 4, 5 have at their ends eyes "i or 8, respectively, traversed by the rope I. As regards the remainder of the length of the channel section of the levers 4, 5 the rope is unrestrained all along the levers so that when free from tension it can move out of the channel formed by the lever arms 4, 5 (Fig. 2). The body members 2 are mounted on the rope I with such axial play as to permit of bending the rope i into all directions and abut against one another along surfaces extending at right angles to the rope axis.

When relaxed this clothes hanger can be collapsed like a string of pearls so that it occupies the least possible space. For use the clothes hanger is brought into operative position by swinging the two pivoted levers 4, 5 beyond the rope axis into the position shown in Fig. 3. The two lever arms 4, 5 then exert pressure on the body members 2 in the direction of the rope i so that said body members are pressed closely one against the other, at the same time stretching the rope I and forming together with the rope a rod capable of carrying a load. A suspending hook I0 engaging at the pivot 9 of the levers 4, 5 serves for hanging the clothes hanger in the manner known.

r The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 shows a clothes hanger which can be sewn into a water jacket. Its rope I and body members 2 with the end members 3 have a small diameter. For transmission of pressure with particular accuracy in I the direction of the rope the spacing means comprises two guide sleeves ll, I2, which are axially slidable on the rope and can pass telescopically one into the other. Each of said guide sleeves I I, [2 has a bearing provided with two eyes l3, l4, and l5, 16, respectively, spaced from each other by 180 deg. measured about the rope axis. The eyes l3, ll of the guide sleeve H are connected with the eyes l5, 16 of the guide sleeve [2 by two toggle levers including each two arms 4, 5 pivoted to each other at 9 so that in operative position of the spring means the pivots 9 are adjacent (Fig. 1) to the guide sleeve 12 preventing the toggle levers from being moved beyond the stretched position. Each arm 5 has a disengaging arm Set for moving the toggle levers in and out of their stretched position. When the two disengaging arms 5a are pressed towards each other the arms 4, 5 will be moved out of their stretched position so that the clothes hanger is no longer capable of carrying a load.

When the spacing means is in operative position the body members 2 and the rope I form a straight rod, as has been described hereinbefore. The rod being carried throughout its length by a triangular piece of cloth H, the bending stress on said rod is minimized. The triangular piece of cloth I! has fixed to its margin corresponding to the base of the triangle the clothes hanger I, 2, and at the angle opposite to the base a suspending loop is attached, from which the tensile forces evenly distribute along the cloth margins l8, l9 corresponding to the sides of the triangle to the ends 3 of the clothes hanger I, 2. Thus the clothes hanger serves in this case as a spreading member and becomes a carrier for the garment into which it is sewn together with the piece of cloth I'I serving as a tension element.

Reference is made to applicants co-pending application, Serial No. 281,229, filed April 8, 1952.

I claim:

1. A supporting device, comprising, in combination, a tension-resistant flexible elongated carrier means; a plurality of body members attached'to said tension-resistant flexible carrier means, at least two of said body members being arranged at and fixedly secured to the ends of said carrier means and constituting end members, each of said body members having opposite end faces adapted to abut against adjacent body members and the total length of said body members in direction of said tension-resistant flexible carrier means being shorter than the total length of said carrier means between said end members by a fixed distance; and manually operable spacing means mounted on said tension-resistant flexible carrier means between two of said body members thereon and having ends abutting against said two body members, respectively, said spacing means being constructed for manual adjustment between an inoperative position in which said ends thereof are in direction of said flexible carrier means at a distance from each other which is shorter than said fixed distance and an operative position in which the ends thereof are held at a distance equal to said fixed distance whereby in said operative position of said spacing means said carrier means is held in stretched position by said body members and said spacing means, while in said inoperative position of said spacing means said body members are spaced on said carrier means so that the same is unstretched and loose.

2. A supporting-device, comprising,.in combination, a tension-resistant flexible string; a plurality of bead-type body members strung on said tension-resistant flexible string twoof said :body

members being arranged at and fixedly secured to the ends of said string and constituting end members, each of said body members having opposite end faces adapted to abut against adjacent members and the total length of said body members in direction of said tension-resistant flexible string being shorter than the total length of said string between said end members by a fixed distance; manually operable spacing levers mounted on said tension-resistant flexible string between two body members thereon and having ends abutting against said two body members, respectively; and a pivot connecting said levers, said spacing levers being constructed for manual adjustment about said pivot between an inoperative position in which said ends thereof are in direction of said flexible string at a distance from each other which is shorter than said fixed distance, and an operative position in which the ends thereof are held at a distance equal to said fixed distance whereby in said operative position of said spacing levers said string is held in stretched position by said body members and said spacing levers, while in said inoperative position of said spacing levers said body members are spaced on said string so that the same is unstretched and loose.

3. A supporting device, comprising, incombination, a tension-resistant flexible string; two end members each firmly arranged at one end of said string; a plurality of bead-type body members strun on said tension-resistant flexible string between said end members, each of said body members having opposite end faces adapted to abut against adjacent members and the total length of said body members indirection of said tension-resistant flexible string being shorter than the total length of said string between said end members by a fixed distance; manuallyoperable spacing levers mounted on said tensionresistant flexible string between two of said body members thereon and having ends abutting against said two body members, respectively; a pivot connecting said levers, said spacing levers being constructed for manual adjustment about said pivot between an inoperative position .in which said ends thereof are in direction of .said flexible string at a distance from eachothcrwhich is shorter than said flxeddistancaand an operative position in which theends:thereoflareheld at a distance-.equalto saidfixeddistance whereby insaid operative position ofsaid spacing-levers said string is held in stretched positionby said body members andsaidspacing levers while in said inoperative position ofsaid spacing levers said body members are spacedonsaid string so that the same is unstretchedand loose; .anda hinge stop arranged on one of saidspacingjevers andcooperating withvthe 'otherof said spacing levers in the operativeposition of said spacing levers so as to limit' the relative. movement of said spacing levers about saidpivotthereof.

4. A supporting device, comprising, in combination, a tension-resistantflexible. string; twoend members each-firmly arranged at one end of said string; .a plurality of bead-type bodymembers strung on said tension-resistant'flexible string between saidend'members, eachof said-body members having opposite end 1 faces adaptedto abut against adjacent members rand the total length of said-body membersin direction ofqsaid tension-resistant flexible string being shorter than the total length of said stringbetweensaid end members by a fixeddistance; manually operable -spacing levers mounted on said .tension resistant flexible string between twosof said body members thereon and having ends abutting against said two body members, respectively; and a pivot connecting said levers, said spacing levers having eyes, respectively, traversed by said tension-resistant flexible string and being constructed for manual adjustment about said pivot between an inoperative position in which said ends thereof are in direction of said flexible string at a distance from each other which is shorter than said fixed distance, and an operative position in which the ends thereof are held at a distance equal to said fixed distance whereby in said operative position of said spacin levers said string is held in stretched position by said body members and said spacing levers, while in said inoperative position of said spacing levers said body members are spaced on said string so that the same is unstretched and loose.

5. A supporting device, comprising, in combination, a tension-resistant flexible string; two end members each firmly arranged at one end of said string; a plurality of bead-type body members strung on said tension-resistant flexible string between said end members, each of said body members having opposite end faces adapted to abut against adjacent members and the total length of said body members in direction of said tension-resistant flexible string being shorter than the total length of said string between said end members by a fixed distance; manually operable spacing levers mounted on said tensionresistant flexible string between two of said body members thereon and having ends abutting against said two body members, respectively; a pivot connecting said levers, said spacin levers having eyes, respectively, traversed by said tension-resistant flexible string and being constructed for manual adjustment about said pivot between an inoperative position in which said ends thereof are in direction of said flexible string at a distance from each other which is shorter than said fixed distance, and an operative position in which the ends thereof are held at a distance equal to said fixed distance whereby in said operative position of said spacing levers said string is held in stretched position by said body members and said spacing levers, while in said inoperative position of said spacing levers said body members are spaced on said string so that the same is unstretched and loose; and a hinge stop arranged on one of said spacing levers and cooperating with the other of said spacing levers in the operative position of said spacing levers so as to limit the relative movement of said spacing levers about said pivot thereof.

6. A supporting device, comprising, in combination, a tension-resistant flexible string; two end members each firmly arranged at one end of said string; a plurality of bead-type body members strung on said tension-resistant flexible string between said end members, each of said body members having opposite end faces adapted to abut against adjacent members and the total length of said body members in direction of said tensionresistant flexible string being shorter than the total length of said string between said end members by a fixed distance; two telescoping sleeves mounted on said tension-resistant flexible string so as to be displaceable in the axial direction thereof, said sleeves having ends abutting against two of said body members, respectively; and a manually operable toggle lever including two arms pivoted to each other at the ends thereof and mounted, respectively, on said sleeves, said toggle lever being constructed for manual adjustment t between an inoperative position in which said ends of said sleeves are in direction of said flexible string at a distance from each other which is shorter than said fixed distance, and an operative position in which the ends thereof are held at a distance equal to said fixed distance whereby in said operative position of said toggle lever said string is held in stretched position by said body members and said sleeves, said pivoted ends of said two arms abutting against the outer one of saidtelescoping sleeves, while in said inoperative position of said" toggle lever said body members are spaced on said string so that the same is unstretched and loose.

'7. A supporting device, comprising, in combination, a tension-resistant flexible string; two end members each firmly arranged at one end of said string; a plurality of bead-type body members strung on said tension-resistant flexible string between said end members, each of said body members having opposite end faces adapted to abut against adjacent members and the total length of said body members in direction of said tension-resistant flexible string being shorter than the total length of said string between said end membersby a fixed distance; two telescoping sleeves mounted on said tension-resistant flexible string so as to be displaceable in the axial direction thereof, said sleeves having ends abutting against two of said body members, respectively; and a pair of opposite manually operable toggle leversincluding each two arms pivoted to each other at the ends thereof and mounted, respectively, oppositely to each other on said sleeves, said toggle levers being constructed for manual adjustment between an inoperative position in which said ends of said sleeves are in direction of said flexible string at a distance from each other which is shorter than said fixed distance, and an operative position in which the ends thereof are held at a distance equal to said fixed distance whereby in said operative position of said toggle levers said string is held in stretched position by said body members and said sleeves, said pivoted ends of said two arms of each of said toggle levers abutting against the outer one of said telescoping sleeves, while in said inoperative position of said toggle levers said body members are spaced on said string so that the same is unstretched and loose.

8. A clothes hanger, comprising, in combination, a tension-resistant flexible string; two end members each firmly arranged at one end of said string; a plurality of bead-type body members strung on said tension-resistant flexible string between said end members, each of said body members having opposite end faces adapted to abut against adjacent members and the total length of said body members in direction of said tensionresistant flexible string being shorter than the total length of said string between said end members by a fixed distance; two telescoping sleeves mounted on said tension-resistant flexible string so as to be displaceable in the axial direction thereof, said sleeves having ends abutting against two of said body members, respectively; a manually operable toggle lever including two arms pivoted to each other at the ends thereof and mounted, respectively, on said sleeves, said toggle lever being constructed for manual adjustment between an inoperative position in which said ends of said sleeves are in direction of said flexible string at a distance from each other which is shorter than said fixed distance, and an operative position in which the ends thereof are held massa e ata distance equal to said fixed distance whereby in saidoperative position of said toggle lever said string is held in stretched position by said body members and said sleeves, said pivoted ends of said two arms abutting against the outer one of said telescoping sleeves, while insaid inoperative position of said toggle lever said body members are spaced on saidstring so that the same is unstretched and loose; a piece of cloth having in operative position of said toggle lever substantially the shape of an isosceles triangle having a base coincident with said tension-resistant flexible string in stretched position; and a suspending loop arranged at the vertex of the triangle formed by said cloth.

9. A clothes hanger, comprising, in combination, a tension-resistant flexible string; two end members each firmly arranged at one end of said string; a plurality of bead-type body members strung on said tension-resistant flexible string between said end members, each of said body members having opposite end faces adapted to abut against adjacent members and the total length of said body members in direction of said tension-resistant flexible string being shorter than the total length of said string between said end members by a fixed distance; two telescoping sleeves mounted on said tensionresistant flexible string so as to be displaceable in the axial direction thereof, said sleeves having ends abutting against two of said body members,

respectively; a pair of opposite manually operable toggle levers including each two arms pivoted to each other at the ends thereof and mounted, respectively, oppositely to each other on said sleeves, said toggle levers being constructed for manual adjustment between an inoperative position in which said ends of said sleeves are in direction of said flexible string at adi-stance fromeach other which is shorter than said fixed distance, and an operative position in which the ends thereof are held at a distance equal to said fixed distance whereby in said operative position of said toggle levers said string is held in stretched position by said body members and said sleeves, said pivoted ends of said two arms or each of said toggle levers abutting against the outer one of said telescoping sleeves, while in said inoperative position of said toggle levers said body members are spaced on said string so that the same is unstretched and loose; a piece of cloth having in operative position of said toggle levers substantially the shape of an isosceles triangle having a base coincident with said tension-resistant flexible string in stretched position; and a suspending loop arranged at the vertex of the triangle formed by said cloth.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS Number 

